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Celebrating education

CIN
10:12 a.m. EDT April 24, 2014

Heyra Avila, who won a Student Leadership award, and Connor Hutcherson, who is an Academic All Star, who both attend Ryle High School, are honored at the Excellence in Education Celebration. With the students are Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore, left, and Randy Poe.(Photo: Provided)

Students, teachers, principals, superintendents, business leaders and community partners who help the region excel in education were recognized for their work at the 2014 Excellence in Education Celebration.

Hosted by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Kentucky Education Council, this was the 13th year for the regional education dinner and the first celebration of the Northern Kentucky has Talent competition.

With just over 800 people at the celebration, this was the largest gathering in Northern Kentucky focused on celebrating excellence in education. Kentucky's Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday was in attendance, as well as several other local and state educaton leaders.

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Provided
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Judy Gibbons, a member of the Kentucky Board of Education, was presented with the Northern Kentucky Education Council Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors an individual who has provided leadership in education, collaborated with other sectors and organizations in the community, and focused on improving student achievement by advocating for initiatives that promote excellence.

In addition, the following were honored for their leadership and dedication to education:

• Chick-fil-A Houston Road was presented with the 2014 Business Engagement of the Year Award for its dedication to improving student achievement through its involvement in high impact education programs and initiatives such as Junior Achievement, All-Pro Dads, iMoms and many others.

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Provided
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The following 12 teachers were presented with Golden Apple Awards for their outstanding dedication and profound effect on the lives of the children they teach:

• Ilah Conley, Florence Elementary;

• Nancy Bardgett , Highlands High School;

• Pam Schlagbaum, Thornwilde Elementary;

• Barbara Taylor, Miles Elementary School;

• Jackie Butts, Tichenor Middle School;

• Lisa Fischer, Longbranch Elementary;

• Tina Reynolds, Woodfill Elementary;

• Sheryl Fischer, Simon Kenton High School;

• DeAnna Poling, Beechgrove Elementary;

• Teri Walker, Twenhofel Middle School;

• Susan Litton, Taylor Mill Elementary;

• Dan Trame, Walton-Verona High School.

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Provided
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The following five high school seniors were presented with the Academic All-Star Awards recognizing their academic success:

• Nicole Ann Zatorski, Villa Madonna Academy;

• Troy Sterling, Simon Kenton High School;

• Connor Hutcherson, Larry A. Ryle High School;

• Marie Burns, Beechwood High School;

• Luke Brockett, Highlands High School.

(Photo: Provided, Provided)

The following students received the Student Leadership Award, presented for exhibiting exemplary characteristics in leadership:

• Heyra Avila, Larry A. Ryle High School;

• Ronica Faith Hutchinson, Pendleton County High School

The following students received the Against All Odds Award, presented for overcoming obstacles to achieve academic success.

• Kiera Wallace from Holmes High School;

• Christopher Bradley Latimore from Walton-Verona High School;

• Skyler Janell Faulkner from Williamstown Senior High School;

• Katherine Zumba from Lloyd Memorial High School.

The following are the winners of the first-ever Northern Kentucky has Talent competition: